The Titans have a chance to offer a different looking defense Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy ruled out only safety Xavier Woods (hamstring) and wide receiver Bryce Oliver (knee) on Friday, meaning there’s at least a chance that defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (hamstring) and edge rusher Arden Key (quad) will return to the lineup.
Offensively, Calvin Ridley (hamstring) also has a chance to return after missing three contests.
Simmons has missed the team’s last two games, while Key has missed four straight contests.
Is McCoy optimistic, the coach was asked, about the return of those two defensive starters?
“I’m optimistic about all of them, to be honest with you,” McCoy said. “They all had a great week of prep and work. But like I told you from day one, we will always communicate with them to see how they’re feeling after the number of days of work, and depending on what particular injury a player has, to make sure they’re ready to go, too.”
A three-time Pro Bowler, Simmons was a limited practice participant on Thursday and Friday after not practicing Wednesday.
He said Friday he was uncertain of his status against the Texans.
“I don’t know how [Saturday] I’ll feel,” Simmons said. “Been rehabbing my ass off and practicing two days in a row. With the walk-through tomorrow, if I feel good, we’ll see about Sunday. It’s kind of one of those things that I can’t predict how I’ll feel Sunday.
“But right now I am feeling good, and I’m continuing to take it day by day, and do the things to continue to prepare myself to play in the game.”
Simmons was off to a great start this season, with 4.5 sacks, 30 tackles and eight tackles for loss in seven games.
Key had made less of an impact in five games, as he produced six tackles, 1.5 sacks and one tackle for loss in five contests.
Still, the return of both players would boost a Tennessee team that lost 26-0 to Houston in the teams’ first meeting this year.
“You see Jeff out there, he’s obviously one of the best players in the league, so he’s going to draw some attention without a doubt,” McCoy said. “It’s great to see he’s worked the past couple days.
“With Arden … you just love his love for the game and his attitude. He loves coming out to practice every day and he’s the same way on game day … It’s great for the younger guys to see them, what they’ve done, how they’ve fought through the injuries to this point in time.”
One other defensive position that should look different on Sunday: At safety, the Titans will not only be without Woods, but also veteran Quandre Diggs, who was released during the team’s bye week.
That will likely mean a starting role and plenty of snaps for rookie Kevin Winston, the team’s second-round draft pick in April, who played 21 defensive snaps in Week 8 and 26 defensive snaps in Week 9.
“He’s a little bit different,” McCoy said of Winston. “I think it’s going to be fun to see him play, especially the more experience he gets, the faster he’ll play … He’s an explosive player, so it’s going to be fun to watch.”
Reserve safety Mike Brown is likely to be activated from injured reserve for the Houston game as well, per McCoy.